Mattress protector



Sept. 10, 1940. E. c. CLARKE M ATTRESS PROTECTOR Filed Jan. 8, 1940 arm0214M Eva Comb Clarke Patented Sept. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES MATTRESSPROTECTOR Eva. Comb Clarke, St. Louis Park, Minn.

Application January 8,

1 Claim.

My invention relates to mattress protectors and has for an object toprovide a protector which will completely protect the top, sides andends of the mattress.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a protector whichwill remain in proper position upon the mattress during use withoutshifting, wrinkling or buckling.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a protectorutilizing a minimum amount of material.

An object of the invention resides in providing a mattress protectorhaving an absorbent member coextensive with the top of the mattress anda cover for the absorbent member having a body portion coextensive withthe absorbent member and having extensions projecting beyond the edgesof the absorbent member and overlying the ends and sides of themattress.

Another object of the invention resides in constructing the extensionsof a width greater than the height of the sides and ends of the mattressto provide flaps adapted to be folded beneath the mattress.

A feature of the invention resides in providing elastic straps extendingdiagonally between adjacent flaps and maintaining the flaps in contactwith the bottom of the mattress.

A still further object of the invention resides in arranging said strapsinwardly from the corners of the extensions to maintain the corners ofthe cover intact.

Another object of the invention resides in constructing the protectorwith sharp corners adapted to give a mattress with rounded'cornersatailored effect.

Other objects of the invention reside in the i novel combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterillustrated and/or described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a mattress protector with portions ofthe protector broken away to illustrate the construction of theinvention and viewed from the top of the mattress.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view similar to 1 viewed from the bottom of themattress.

1940, Serial No. 312,843

inconvenience to the user. In addition such protectors do not protectthe sides and ends of the mattress. The instant invention provides aconstruction in which these disadvantages are entirely eliminatedwithout the use of a separate mattress cover.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown in Figs. 1 and2a mattress l0 having a top H, ends [2, sides l3 and a. bottom l4 allconnected, together in the customary manner. The corners between theends l2 and sides l3 are rounded as indicated at I5 in Fig. 2. Inasmuchas the construction of the mattress forms no feature of the invention,the same has not been shown in detail in the'drawing and will not bedescribed, though it can readily be comprehended that the invention maybe used with any type of mattress such as is now well known in the art.

The mattress protector constituting the instant invention consists of anabsorbent member l6 constructed of any suitable fabric such as is nowwell known in the art. A padding material having absorbtivecharacteristics is desired, although any material of a similar naturemay be employed. This absorbent member is coextensive with the top H ofthe mattress and is constructed with square or sharp corners, indicatedat 11 in Fig. 1.

Underlying the absorbent member is a bac-king I8 which may beconstructed of muslin or any other suitable material. This backing is ofthe same dimensions as the absorbent member I6 and isdisposed next tothe top H of the mattress Hl.

Overlying the absorbent member [6 is a cover l9 which is constructedfrom the same material as the backing l8. If desired, any other fabricmay be employed for the purpose and fabrics having patterns woventherein or designs printed or woven into the same may be used. Thiscover is constructed from a single sheet of material to form a bodyportion 24 of dimensions suc-hthat the same overlies the absorbentmember I6 and is further constructed to provide extensions 2| and 22issuing from the body portion at the edges of the absorbent member IS.The sheet of material from which the cover [9 is constructed is miteredat the corners so that the extensions 2| and 22 may be sewed together toform sharp 5 corners indicated at 23. The backing I8, the absorbentmember l6 and the body portion 24 of cover l9 are all stitched togetherby means of a seam 25 which extends perimetrically about the assembledstructure in close proximity to the edges of the absorbent member l6 andthe backing I8. In this manner all of the parts are securely heldtogether.

The extensions 2| and 22 are of a width greater than the height of theends I 2 and sides I3 of the mattress I0. When the protector is placedover the mattress the extensions 2| and 22 fit snugly about the ends l2and sides I3 of the mattress and hold the absorbent member 16, thebacking l8 and the body 24 of the cover l9 firmly in position. Theincreased width of the extensions 2| and 22 provide flaps 26 and 21,best shown in Fig, 2, which are adapted to underlie the bottom M of themattress.

For the purpose of holding the mattress protector in position fourelastic straps 28 are employed which are stitched to the flaps 26 and21.

These elastic straps extend diagonally across the adjoining flaps andare disposed inwardly of the corners 23 formed at the junctures of theextensions. These straps serve to draw the intermediate portions 29 ofthe flaps 26 and 21 taut beneath the bottom M of the mattress, while atthe same time maintaining the portions 3| of said flaps situated betweenthe corners 2E and the straps 28 free. This maintains the corners 23intact throughout their extent and gives to the mattress protector atailored eifect at the corners of the same, thus obscuring the roundedcorners I 5 of the mattress.

In applying the mattress protector, the absorbent member I6 and attachedstructure is positioned over the top H of the mattress. The extensions2! and 22 and the corners 23, connected therewith, are next applied overthe corners [5 of the mattress until the straps 28 are situated beneaththe bottom M of the mattress, as shown in Fig. 2. The various parts arethen re-arranged until the entire protector lies smooth upon themattress and the extensions thereof fit snugly against the sides andends of the same. Due to the arrangement of straps in a diagonal manner,the intermediate portions 29 of the extensions 26 and 27 are drawn tautand the excess material shifted to the portions 3| of the extensionssituated at the corners 23 of the protector. This gives the protectorthe desired tailored effect and at the same time provides means fordisposing of the material gathered in stretching the cover about themattress. In this manner the protector is applied without wrinkles. Dueto the fact that the flaps 26 and 2! underlie the bottom l4 of themattress the entire protector is firmly held in position and will notshift about during use, or wrinkle or buckle as frequently occurs withordinary mattress protectors placed loosely upon the top of themattress.

The advantages of my invention are manifest. The device is extremelysimple and practical. My improved mattress protector can be constructedat an expense only slightly greater than that of the ordinary mattressprotector by forming extensions on the body portion of the cover whichoverlie the sides and ends of the mattress. With my invention there areno fasteners to become loosened or get out of order. The mattressprotector is easily applied and once the same is in position it remainsso Without attention. Slight variations in the dimensions of theprotector do not effect the smooth and proper application of the same tothe mattress. With my invention it becomes unnecessary to use an extramattress cover over the protector itself. My mattress protector, Whenapplied, is pleasing in appearance and produces a tailored effect.

Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein disclosed, maybe made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from thespirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protectby Letters Patent is:

A mattress protector comprising an absorbent member coextensive with thetop of the mattress, a backing for the absorbent member disposed beneaththe same, a cover consisting of a body portion overlying said absorbentmember, said absorbent member, backing and cover being stitchedtogether, said cover having extensions at the sides and ends thereofgreater in width than the thickness of the mattress and adapted tooverlie the sides and ends of the mattress, elastic straps, each strapbeing secured to the edges of adjacent extensions and adapted tounderlie the mattress diagonally thereof and yieldingly bringintermediate marginal portions of the extensions tautly into positionagainst the underside of the mattress, the adjacent extensions beingunited to form square corners outwardly of the diagonally disposedstraps, the portions of said extensions outwardly of said straps beingadapted to hang freely with their lower marginal portions turning at thejunctions with said straps from vertical planes into the horizontalplane of said portions of the extensions tautly underlying the mattress.

EVA COMB CLARKE.

